Lito Magno turns over NBI leadership to Melvin Matibag

Acting National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Lito Magno on Monday turned over the leadership of the bureau to newly-appointed director Melvin Matibag.

“Institution endured not because [of] titles but because of the characters of the people who served within them. And you have given these institution its strength,” Magno said in his speech.

“As leadership transitions, I am confident that Director Matibag will not only sustain what we have began but elevate it further, considering his past experience in managing different institutions,” he added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Matibag last week. He took his oath before Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

READ: Who is Melvin Matibag? Ex-Duterte Cab sec picked as new NBI chief

Magno said that Matibag has his “full and unwavering support.”

“The mission remains clear. The path forward remains steady. Director Matibag, Melvin, in my capacity as one of your assistant director, you have my full and unwavering support,” Magno said.

Meanwhile, in an ambush interview, Matibag said that Marcos instructed him and the NBI to investigate corruption, among others. 

“Gawin natin ‘yun. Ta-trabahuhin natin. By doing that, ‘yun ang binanggit na ilalapit ‘yung NBI sa tao. Siguro in doing so, doon babalik ‘yung tiwala ng tao sa gobyerno,” he said.

(Let’s do that. We will work on it. By doing that, that is what was mentioned about bringing the NBI closer to the people. Maybe in doing so, that is how the people’s trust in the government will return.)

Matibag stressed that those who are guilty should be held accountable.

“Sumuko sila dapat at harapin ‘yung batas na kanilang kinasasakdalan. Pero kung hindi sila susuko at merong prosesong binigay ang korte, we will use the full force of the NBI to go after them and to get them, para managot sila,” he said. 

(They should surrender and face the law that they are violating. But if they do not surrender and there is a process given by the court, we will use the full force of the NBI to go after them and get them so they will be held accountable.)

Amid remarks that he was a former Cabinet secretary in the Duterte administration, Matibag said he hoped there were no such concerns.

“Let’s address the big elephant in the room… dati akong nasa kabila, ngayon nandirito. Sana wala tayong linyang ganoon. Kasi ang mga nanunungkulan, nanunungkulan tayo base sa mandato ng ahensya. Hindi dahil sa mga personalidad na naglagay sayo,” he said.

(Let’s address the big elephant in the room… I used to be on the other side, now I’m here. I hope we don’t have that kind of line. Because those of us in office serve based on the mandate of the agency, not because of the personalities who appointed you.)

Following the turnover ceremony, Matibag and Magno arrived at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a courtesy call.

According to Matibag, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida directed him to create a system of dental records.

“‘Yung pagkakaroon ng dental records ng bawat Pilipino po para po magamit natin sa forensics natin, sa sakuna, sa kung meron pong mga— kagaya po sa missing sabungeros noon, kapag makita mo ‘yung dental records,” he said on Balitanghali.

(The establishment of dental records for every Filipino so that we can use them in our forensics, in disasters, in cases such as the missing sabungeros before, when you are able to see the dental records.)

“So tututukan po natin ‘yan (so we will focus on that),” he added.  

Meanwhile, Matibag said he is willing to recuse should his wife, who is a congressman, be investigated amid the flood control controversy.

“Unang-una, hindi lang naman po ang NBI ang nag iimbestiga… kung meron pong magkakaroon na conflict of interest, tayo po ay willing po tayong mag recuse,” he said.

(First of all, it is not only the NBI that is investigating… if there will be a conflict of interest, we are willing to recuse ourselves.) —AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News